Yaroslav Rakitskyi

Yaroslav Rakitskyi is a professional Ukrainian footballer known for his tenure as a central defender with FC Shakhtar Donetsk and the Ukrainian national team. Born on April 3, 1989, in Donetsk, Ukraine, he began his career at Shakhtar, where he made a name for himself with his strong defensive skills and ability to contribute to the attack. Over his career, Rakitskyi has garnered attention for his performances in both domestic and international competitions, including the UEFA Champions League. Following a successful stint at Shakhtar, he became a free agent in the summer of 2023 and has since signed with FC Chornomorets Odesa, motivated by the opportunity to reunite with former teammate and new head coach Oleksandr Kuchер.